I'm having a tough time describing the flavour of rooibos. Especially, because sometimes I feel like I taste different things in it. I might not be brewing it right.

Sometimes I taste something a little sweet and fruity in it. Other times? I feel like I taste almost cigarette smoke. I wish I could consistently get the sweet!

I'm making a genuine effort to cut back on caffeine, and this is the best alternative I've found to actual tea (though I still have a cup or so a day of that). Herbals tend to be too sweet for my all day sipping (good for breakfast, or a treat, but not for right next to the keyboard at work.)

I'm thinking I may try the rooibos jasmine to give a little added depth. Any other suggestions on what to change?

It is hard to describe. I always found it kind of...I hate to say bland, because that has a negative connotaion, neutral. I think that's why I've seen it used in so many blends; you can flavor it with whatever you want.

From Rishi I've tried the blueberry rooibos, good, a mint rooibos, better, and a 'jamiaican red bush' that has lemongrass, schizandra berries, hibiscus, and a few other ingredients, best.

Republic of Tea has a new line of Be Well red teas that sell pretty well at my store, but I haven't tried them.

I get what you mean about the cigarette smoke. The first time I tried rooibos, I was disgusted. It was like a tobacco plantation and a horse barn all rolled into one. I had to go back and really think about what I was tasting to find the sweet notes and then play around to find how to consistantly get them. Generally a five minute steep starting in boiling water will do it for me.

I still prefer my rooibos flavored. Vanilla brings out the natural sweetness, and tropical fruits complement both sweet tones and the overall vegetal character well.

I bought the rooibos unflavored and though it was pretty good, so I was digging in my cupboard and found imitation chocolate flavoring. I added a splash of it in the rooibos while it was steeping and found it to be much better that way.

I usually use the term earthy to describe it. Thinking back, when I opened the first tin of rooibos it reminded me of the horse barn smell and I was ready to send it back. After trying some of the flavored varieties, the term mellow along with earthy seems more accurate a description.

It truly depends on how busy I am and how I time. I usually shoot for nine minutes, often get ten, usually get 15ish, and occasionally forget about it for 30-45 min. Hooray cast iron pot, else I'd be drinking iced rooibos!